Reviewer The Dark Deceiver pointed out that I had some facts on Grimm biology wrong, and I gotta thank him for it. Lovecraftian monster biology isn't by strong suit. However, I'm gonna be a little creative and stick with Mr. Tibbs consuming negative emotions to grow big and strong. He's already a special Grimm anyways. We don't know too much about how Grimm survive, so why not implement a bit of theoretical details into the story, eh?

Also, if anyone is wondering why I named him Mr. Tibbs, its another It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia reference to a plush elephant owned by one of the main cast.

"You want to move to Atlas?"

Cinder looked up from her diary at Emerald, sitting at the opposite side of her bunk. The green haired thief untangled her legs from Fall's as she continued discussing her plans for the future.

"Yeah," Em admitted, crawling over to her partner. She nestled herself in between her arm and her chest, looking up at her. "With all of the money we're going to get, we can find a nice high-rise apartment for ourselves. Maybe even one overlooking the Poseidon Lake, if we want."

Her happiness triggering something darker in her mind, Cinder laughed lightly to try and hide it. "You seem to have this all planned out already."

"I've been thinking about it for a while now. You know, if we ever ended up like this. Together, I mean. It was just a stupid dream of mine before. Never really thought it could come true."

"Indeed," Fall closed her book, lying back on her pillow and sighing deeply. Sustrai could sense she was acting a bit apathetic. She leaned into her more, putting her arm over her waist.

"Something wrong?"

"No. It just got me thinking, that's all. About what I have to do soon."

"Oh, that…" Em knew just what she meant. If things were going to change between Cinder and the people from Beacon for good, there was one thing she had to return to them. "Is it even possible though?"

"If a Fall Maiden's powers can be stolen, they can be returned. How that would work I do not know, but I must find a way."

"If anyone can figure it out, you could. I know it."

"That's… That's not what I'm worried about," Cinder tilted her head so it was touching Emerald's, "You saw the pain in Amber when I stole her powers. She was quite powerful – much stronger than me on my own - yet it nearly killed her. When I have to return them, I don't know what will happen to me."

"Don't talk like that. I don't like it."

"Don't you understand? I can't avoid the possibilities. That would just be foolish of me. I don't want you to have these perfect dreams without considering I might not be around for them!" Cinder let a bit of venom drip into that last part. When she saw Em retract from her, she looked away in shame. "I… I'm sorry. This has been digging at me for some time now."

Em gave her a sympathetic look, slowly descending onto her chest and placing her ear on her beating heart. "You've got nothing to be scared of. I'll make sure of it."

Just her promising words made Cinder feel much calmer inside. She kissed the top of Emerald's head, wrapping her arms around her and closing her eyes. Now that she had confided her deepest fear to her, there was one other thing she had to tell Emerald. But telling her outright would be boring: She was going to show her instead.

"I am beautiful with you… Even in the darkest part of me…"

Emerald's eyes shot open at the melody coming from Cinder's mouth. She held herself up over Cinder with her hands, having to see her singing with her own vision to believe it.

"I am beautiful with you… Make it feel the way it's supposed to be…"

Cinder could feel her hands shaking, her voice quivering as she reached the end of the short chorus of the song she held close to her heart. If this was anyone other than Emerald she was singing too, she wouldn't even have gotten this far without freezing up.

"You're here with me, just show me this and I'll believe… I am beautiful with you."

There were so many things Emerald wanted to say right now, but only one question stood out from among the rest. "…Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was going to be a secret," Cinder smiled, "I've been practicing with Weiss for Ruby's birthday when we were going to sing for her. I wanted to surprise you then, but… I just couldn't help myself. I don't want to hide anything from you anymore, Em."

"Cinder…"

Now that earned Cinder a kiss. As Emerald leaned down to do so, their lips centimeters apart, the closed door burst open. Sustrai nearly fell out of the bunk bed as Ruby rushed in.

"Ruby!" Emerald growled, not appreciating the kiss-blocker, "Knock next time!"

"Sorry! But have either of you two seen a tiny little Goliath walking about?"

"A Goliath?" Cinder raised an eyebrow, "Surely you don't mean a Grimm?"

"Yup. Found a cute little baby one. Lost him already. Answers to Mr. Tibbs. Maybe. I didn't really train him to answer to that at all, but give it a shot!"

And with that Ruby was gone, leaving Cinder and Emerald as confused as ever.

"I think it is best we stay out of this one," Cinder said, pulling Emerald down to her slowly, "We've earned the time off, wouldn't you say?"

"Want me to go lock the door?"

"Only if you think someone else is going to barge in."

"…Yeah, I'm gonna lock it."

"That is probably for the best."

Velvet was beginning to accept that all the things everyone had said about Mercury were true. She sat over an air vent in the basement, cooling her flustered face and deciding that there was no need to try and get on Black's good side. She should have known it was too good to be true; someone with a smile as smooth as his couldn't have a decent personality to match.

"Its fine," Velvet told herself, "It's only a few more days. It can't be that hard not to avoid him." If she hadn't turned around just after that, then that statement would have still held true. Merc stood a few yards from her, leaning against the popcorn machine.

"Ouch," he said, reaching in for a kernel, "Gonna avoid me now, eh?"

Scarlatina clenched her fists. "Please, go away."

"Relax. I'm not here to fight with ya, unless you ask for it," It was then Velvet spotted the gleam of his lower legs. He had left the prosthetics exposed on purpose. "These fascinate ya, huh?"

"Not anymore," Velvet folded her arms, shoving her curiosity away.

Merc just sighed at her. "Yeah, could've guessed that."

Quiet. The only sound for the following minute was the whirring of air coming from the vent. The two stood there, not facing each other. As much as he hated having to do so, Merc figured he had to take the initiative.

"I didn't come here to apologize, by the way. Not my style. Just had to get something off my chest."

Velvet's ears perked up for a moment, but then drooped once more. She couldn't let him know she was interested in what he had to say.

"Ever hear of Marcus Black? You might've. He was a shitty father, but a pretty skilled man. Never knew when to stop doing something though. Drinking, beating… teaching. That last one was the death of him. Never pass down all of your secrets to anyone. Makes you weak."

"I'll keep that in mind," Velvet replied with no sincerity, "So what happened to him?"

"I killed him."

"…You what?"

"I killed him. Ended him. These legs?" he gestured to the metal holding him upright, "He never got to see 'em. He only had the chance to break my old ones. So I broke his neck. I think patricide is the technical term for it."

"You're scaring me, Mercury…"

"Good. That's good. And it means my point is being proven."

Velvet needed to sit down, her head in a daze as Black popped another kernel into his mouth. "But… But you seem so aloof here! You're never trying to kill anyone, or even retaliate when they hurt you! I don't understand!"

It was then Black began to chuckle, shaking his head. "I'm here because I was ordered to be. And now that I don't take orders from anyone, I'm here for the prize. I'll do whatever I have to do to get it. There are two sides to me. One is nice. He'll hold his anger back, and might even try to get laid while here. He's been pretty active lately."

"A-And the other one?" Velvet asked nervously.

"Now he isn't so nice. If you were about to die, he wouldn't help you if it meant endangering myself. He only looks out for one person, and I think you know who that person is. That's the real me. Don't take it personally, Velvet. I just have to do what's best for me."

Black started to leave, stopping in the aisle way to look back at Scarlatina. There was just the slightest hint of remorse in his eyes, but you'd have to squint to notice it. "If I could choose between them, I'd go with the first one. I don't see him enough. But this world won't allow for me to be him. Right now he's feeling a bit down. Enough rejection really hits him hard. But he'll be back, if briefly. Other guy needs to get back in place."

"But you don't have to be that person anymore!" Velvet clasped her hands, as if in prayer, "Look at Cinder, and Emerald, and Roman! They've changed so much! You can be like them if you let go of the past!"

"Sorry," Merc was at the steps now, looking down on her, "If all the scum and villainy had a change of heart, there wouldn't be any more heroes left either. Somebody's gotta fight 'em. Somebody's gotta do the dirty work. And that somebody can't get attached to anyone, especially to a Faunus as doe-eyed as you. That's why I prefer one night stands. I forget about them. I wouldn't forget about someone who I know is waiting for me to come back to them. Dying on them would be the last thing I'd want to happen. "

"Then… Then can we still try?"

Black rolled his eyes. "Did you not hear anything I just said? I'd rather not have to repeat it all. Those metaphors are too clever to be repeated. It'll kill the effect."

"I did hear you. Every word. And you said that the you I came to know will be back for just a bit. The one who doesn't kill, the one you want to be. Even if it'll be just for a few days, I want to get to know him. And once things come to an end at this house, we'll go our separate ways no questions asked. It would mean a lot to me, Mercury."

"Velvet…" Merc pinched his brow, trying his best to look away from her. In most cases he would just say yes and humor her, and then try to bang her like any other girl.

But Velvet wasn't like the rest, for some reason.

He peeked at her from under his palm, her big eyes locking with his. They were so full of a hope he hadn't seen in a long, long time. He'd never really noticed that before, now that he thought about it.

…He was going to regret this.

"Three days. After that, don't contact me. Forget about me. And I'll do the same in return."

It wasn't much, but it was enough for Velvet. "Then how does a quick film sound to you?"

"Anything but a chick flick. I've seen the DVD's Cinder leaves in the lounge after a night with Emerald. Anything similar to that crap'll put me to sleep."

Smiling as Black walked back down to join her, Velvet caught sight of a small black shape tumbling down the steps. "Oh, look! It's Mr. Tibbs!"

"That thing followed me this whole way?" Merc scratched his head, then shrugged, "Thing's adventurous, I'll give it that."

As Mr. Tibbs trotted over to the two, the movie screen curtain burst open. Virulet scanned the room, spotting the source of the voices that were interrupting his hour of silence used for formulating diabolical schemes. He opened his mouth to berate them, but soon caught sight of a certain miniature Grimm.

"Why, what it this?" Virulet grinned, approaching Mr. Tibbs and hoisting him up high. The Grimm wrapped its trunk around his arm, taking in the pure evil emanating from within Penny's husk.

"Penny, meet Mr. Tibbs!" Velvet replied happily, "He's quite friendly, for a Grimm."

"Really now?" Virulet stared into Mr. Tibbs' beady yellow eyes, immensely pleased by this sudden new arrival, "Oh yes, I think the two of us will become the best of friends…"

Cinder's Song ~ "Beautiful with You" by Halestorm, if you want to give it a listen.